Review: The Kings of Frog Island Ep's

It had felt like quite some time since we had heard anything from The Kings of Frog Island as 2018 drew to a close, but the announcement of a series of releases by them throughout 2019 has already given us a wealth of what Leicester’s finest do best. At the time of writing this, EP no.7 has just been released and it looks like we are expecting one every month for the rest of the year. So in release date order, here we go:

Birth of a Star

The first new release “Birth of a Star” starts with a drum beat that opens the door for an awesome riff that is classic Kings of Frog Island, a riff that is meant to be played over and over. Backed up with another 3 chord riff that becomes the mainstay for the next 21 minutes, it has an almost wild west feel to it. The song walks on with the mantra like drumbeat as the guitar dips in and out and the keyboard floats all over the track, and just as you think the songs is over, the keyboards pulls you in a different direction, the drums kick in stronger and away we go.

Ove the next ten minutes “Birth of a Star” takes a few more twists and turns and it conjures up the sounds of very early Queens of the Stone Age and as we near then end of the journey, the guitar takes a winding walk into the mystical distance as the sun slowly sets in the sky.

White Dwarf

“White Dwarf” has a bigger feel to it with a thick fuzzy riff and some 70’s organ like keyboards, topped with a guitar riff that soars in and out. Slowly moving along, the riffs, the big drum beats and keyboard build a good repetition that holds on to you before the song slips away into keyboards that sound almost heavenly, as though you are up there some place in the clouds, then nothing. Very atmospheric.

Temporal Riff, Vol.1

The third single “Temporal Riff, Vol.1” is an absolute treat, taking the original "Temporal Riff" (from Vol V) and making it sound more 60’s and drug induced. Sounding more intimate and trippy than the original and without a doubt an appreciative nod to The Velvet Underground. The whole sound and vibe of the 6 minutes moves away from that feeling of sitting on a beach under that stars and into a floating opium induced dream that takes you into the unknown. The constant beat of what sounds like maracas throughout really makes this version stand out.

Supernova

Back to the instrumentals and “Supernova” starts slowly with an uplifting positive sound to it which includes the ever so slight use of a wah-wah effect in the background, which is more noticeable with headphones on. The song meanders through repetitive riffs and space like keyboards as you feel yourself drifting away to a darker place, then a single riff kicks in and lifts you straight back out.

Ozium

Picking a song to cover is usually something quite personal and they couldn’t have picked a more fitting track to play than Monster Magnet’s “Ozium”. Anyone who knows me, knows my love of Monster Magnet, so only good things can come of this.

Sounding a lot more stripped back and rawer than the original, they throw their own twist on the classic. The guitar strums, the gong sounds and the vocals sound really good but I do wish they had taken the song into the second half when it goes off into oblivion, I think they really could have done something. I guess they “will not be denied”.

Pigs in Kaftans

I think “Pigs in Kaftans” was the first track produced in their new studio, and what a way to start. Looking at the image that accompanies the track, I’m thinking dark, moody, medieval? 

The song strums its way in with vocals that are more spoken, in a Monster Magnet sort of way, then it kicks in with a huge fuzzy chorus that makes you think of classic slow stomping Fu Manchu, repeating the words “over my head”. This is a song that needs to be played live.

As the song, a short one for them at 5:24, rolls on, the guitar, sounding real raw and fuzzy, meanders off on a walkabout before the conclusion.

Nebula

“Nebula” is hot off the mixing desk only being released yesterday, and take us back down the relaxed psychedelic route. Keyboards sounding like they’re deep in space bring us in to some gentle guitar work that has a Pink Floyd feel to it, giving the listener a warm optimistic feel. A drumbeat kicks in with a live feel that sits, in the mix, more towards the background but makes the whole thing feel bigger, before the acoustic guitar pulls it back in and keyboards and organ open up the song for a lengthy bit of winding electric guitar. 

As the song glides to a conclusion, I think the quote that accompanies it sums up the mood perfectly, “we recorded these songs because we like the end of the party be a gentle return rather than a bumpy landing”.

As a big fan of The Kings of Frog Island, 2019 has been full of good surprises and looks to continue for a while yet. Below are the various ways to purchase the tracks as well as the link for their YouTube channel which has loads of good stuff on.

Spotify
CDBaby
Apple Music
Facebook